Curriculum & Delivery

The MA in Higher Education program is a 36-credit program. All students take the Foundations Core (33 credits) and one Elective (3 credits). Contextualized learning is an important facet of the program. Students are required to engage in a minimum of 600 hours of related field experience during their graduate studies. 

The FOUNDATIONS CORE consists of 11 required courses (33 credits) that ensure a broad grasp of the history and philosophy of higher education, clear insight into the nature of learning and the learner, and a thorough integration of learning and life.

Required courses:

• Foundations of Learning and Knowledge
• Historical Foundations of Higher Education
• College Student Development
• Foundations of Higher Education
• The Higher Education Professional
• Higher Education Administration
• Foundations of Counseling and Advisement
• Collaboration and Decision Making in Student Affairs Leadership
• Research and Assessment in Higher Education
• One of the following:
  • Foundations of Campus Diversity
  • Comparative Higher Education
• Capstone in Higher Education

One ELECTIVE COURSE (3 credits) is required. Some of these electives are offered more frequently than others.

• Residence Life
• College Student Success
• Leadership and Change
• Contemporary Trends in Higher Education
• Legal Issues in Higher Education
• Vocation of Teacher

The program is available the following formats:

COHORT MODEL

In the Cohort Model, courses are delivered on campus.  A one-week break usually follows each course, and two longer breaks occur at the Christmas holidays and in the summer respectively.  Students also complete other courses by enrolling in the Institutes classes.  Many students in the Cohort Model hold graduate assistantships at Geneva or at nearby colleges and universities. 

Graduate assistantships are available to students enrolled in this program.  The professional positions available for assistantships vary, e.g., residence life, admissions, campus ministry, coaching, teaching, career services, and student activities.  Graduate assistantships are normally nine-month positions (usually renewable for the second year) and they include a one-third reduction in tuition costs, as well as a monthly stipend.

INSTITUTE MODEL

The Institute model, a low-residency option, allows students to pursue their master’s degree remotely while maintaining their position in higher education.  Summer Institute is offered in the early summer (June).  Students who enroll in this option can complete their graduate degree by attending two Summer Institutes and enrolling in additional online courses.  This is accomplished by taking two on-site courses in person during the one-week Institute and one online course each semester.  An elective course is available at Winter Institute, which is also offered over a one-week period in early January every other year.  Readings, assignments, and ongoing conversations are undertaken as courses continue online after both Summer and Winter Institute courses. 

SELF-DIRECTED STUDIES MODEL

Students can take longer than two years to complete the master’s program through the Self-Directed Studies Model.  This model offers students the opportunity to design their pursuit of the Master of Arts in Higher Education in the most flexible way.  Students interested in this format can choose courses whenever they are offered until they fulfill all of the program requirements within 7 years from matriculation.